Basic Biographical Details

Name: Peter Burnett Caird
Designation:  
Born: 7 February 1927
Died:  
Bio Notes: Peter Burnett Caird was born in Carlisle, Cumberland on 7 February 1927, the son of Andrew J Caird, surgeon, and his wife Mary A Cownie. He was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh. He studied at the School of Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art from 1945 to 1947 and won the Andrew Grant prize in the latter year which enabled him to spend a week at the Kunstacademi in Stockholm. He spent part of the 1947 with Basil Spence while the practice was involved with the ‘Enterprise Scotland’ exhibition. He returned to the College, completed the course and was elected ARIBA in 1951 (and ARIAS in 1964). Around this time he won a second Andrew Grant prize, this time a post-graduate scholarship which enabled him to send six months in Denmark studying furniture design and housing under Professor Klint.

Caird returned to Spence as an assistant in that year and remained there until 1957. Besides exhibition work (he worked with Patrick Guest on illustrations for the catalogue for the Exhibition of Industrial Power at Kelvingrove, Glasgow) whilst with Spence, he was involved with the major alterations to the University Staff Club, though he left the practice before this was completed. He moved to the West Indies becoming a principal in partnership with the firm Robertson Ward Associates whose offices were in St John’s, Antigua. He was involved there with a wide range of projects. He returned to Scotland in 1961 and joined Eric Hall & Partners. For the first year he was an associate architect on probation for a partnership but thereafter became principal in partnership, remaining with the practice when it was amalgamated in 1965 as Alan Reiach Eric Hall & Partners.

Caird was admitted FRIBA on 16 July 1969, his proposers being John Hardie Glover, Alan Reiach and Eric Hall. The reference in this paper describes Caird as having an ‘immaculate attitude to any problem’ and being a ‘stickler for detail’.

He retired from the partnership in 1982, remaining as an active Consultant for a further three years. He subsequently set up practice on his own account keeping a modest workload going until retiring completely in 1989. He resigned from the RIBA in 1990.

In 1954 he married Diana Cumming and the couple have two sons, Andrew and David. David is a Director of Ferguson Mann Architects, Bristol. In his spare time Caird enjoys sailing and woodwork.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4Mulcaster House, Stanwix, Carlisle, EnglandPrivate 1944 
Item 2 of 435, St Clair Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate19441954 
Item 3 of 4St John's , West IndiesPrivate19571961 
Item 4 of 49, Spylaw Bank Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1961  

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 8Basil Spence & Partners1947 AssistantYear out from ECA studies
Item 2 of 8Basil Spence & Partners19521957Assistant 
Item 3 of 8Robertson Ward Associates19571961Partner 
Item 4 of 8Eric Hall & Partners (Eric W Hall & Partners)19611962Associate 
Item 5 of 8Eric Hall & Partners (Eric W Hall & Partners)19621965Partner 
Item 6 of 8Alan Reiach Eric Hall & Partners19651985Architect 
Item 7 of 8Reiach Hall Blyth Partnership19721982Partner 
Item 8 of 8Reiach Hall Blyth (Iran)19771980Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Hardie Glover16 July 1969For Fellowship
Item 2 of 3Eric Walker Hall16 July 1969For Fellowship
Item 3 of 3Alan Reiach16 July 1969For Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1William Alistair Miller17 July 1968For Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 78 Drumbeg House   Scotland 
Item 2 of 781947Enterprise Scotland 1947 Exhibition  EdinburghScotlandWorked on this as a student architect with Basil Spence & Partners during year out from ECA.
Item 3 of 781950John Smith (Wools)  EdinburghScotland 
Item 4 of 781950Premises for R S Robertson & Scott   Scotland 
Item 5 of 781950SAI (Scottish Agricultural Industries) offices  EdinburghScotlandReconstruction?
Item 6 of 781950Scottish Agricultural IndustriesAyr AyrshireScotlandAmenities block and other work
Item 7 of 781951Festival of Britain Scotland, Exhibition of Industrial Power, Kelvin Hall  GlasgowScotlandWorked on catalogue illustrations for Basil Spence & Partners
Item 8 of 781952Street lighting and street furniture  EdinburghScotlandJob architect
Item 9 of 781952Two exhibition stands for ICI, Earl's CourtEarl's Court LondonEnglandJob architect
Item 10 of 781952Two private houses  EdinburghScotlandAs job architect
Item 11 of 781954Inch Hall ChurchInch EdinburghScotland 
Item 12 of 781955Community HallBroughton PeeblesshireScotlandJob architect
Item 13 of 781955Normal College (later University Staff Club)  EdinburghScotlandMajor alterations - job architect with Basil Spence & Partners
Item 14 of 781957Air terminal building Antigua West IndiesAs partner with Robertson Ward
Item 15 of 781957George Watson's School, head masters house  EdinburghScotland 
Item 16 of 781957Government Administration Buildings Antigua West IndiesAs partner with Robertson WArd
Item 17 of 781957Post officeBasseterreSt Kitts West IndiesAs partner with Robertson Ward
Item 18 of 781957Post office St John'sAntigua West IndiesAs partner with Robertson Ward.
Item 19 of 781957Private house Antigua West IndiesAs partner with Robertson Ward
Item 20 of 781957Private house St Martin West IndiesAs partner with Robertson Ward
Item 21 of 781957SchoolLibertaAntiguaWest Indies As partner with Robertson Ward
Item 22 of 781957Three hotels Antigua West IndiesAs partner with Robertson Ward
Item 23 of 781960RHS Ingliston showground, Yorkshire Insurance StandIngliston EdinburghScotland 
Item 24 of 781960Royal Showground Stoneleigh, Yorkshire Insurance StandStoneleigh WarwickshireEngland 
Item 25 of 781960Trinity College Glenalmond, Reid's HouseGlenalmond PerthshireScotland 
Item 26 of 78After 1960King's College, University of Durham, Research Block  Newcastle-upon-TyneEngland 
Item 27 of 781961City Infectious Diseases HospitalColinton EdinburghScotland3 twin-ward upgrade.
Item 28 of 781962City Hospital, medical residency for 36 doctors  EdinburghScotlandAs partner in charge
Item 29 of 781963Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Congenital Abnormalities Research Unit  EdinburghScotlandAs partner in charge
Item 30 of 781963Farm cottagesEaster Howgate MidlothianScotlandPartner in charge
Item 31 of 781963Farm cottagesBoghall West Lothian As partner in charge
Item 32 of 781963Glasgow post offices  GlasgowScotlandRemodelling - as partner in charge
Item 33 of 781963Group of houses, Longstone Road  EdinburghScotlandJob architect
Item 34 of 781963Housing developmentGracemount EdinburghScotlandAs partner in charge
Item 35 of 781963Post officeGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandUpgrades as partner in charge
Item 36 of 781963Post office (or offices)  BordersScotlandUpgrade - as partner in charge
Item 37 of 781963Post offices  EdinburghScotlandUpgrades - as partner in charge
Item 38 of 781964Spillers Stand, Royal Highland Show  EdinburghScotlandAs partner in charge
Item 39 of 781965General Post Office  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to public office
Item 40 of 781965House for Mrs LochCulross FifeScotlandAs partner in charge
Item 41 of 781966Gallery and offices for Scottish Arts Council  EdinburghScotlandPartner in charge
Item 42 of 781966Waverley Station, Booking Hall  EdinburghScotlandAs partner in charge
Item 43 of 781967City Hospital, Pavilion 7  EdinburghScotlandAs partner in charge
Item 44 of 781968Heriot-Watt University, Maths, Physics and Chemistry departmentsRiccarton MidlothianScotland 
Item 45 of 781969Friends' Provident and Century Group offices  EdinburghScotlandPartner in charge - remodelling od existing offices
Item 46 of 781969Heriot-Watt University, sports centreRiccarton West LothianScotlandMay be involved.
Item 47 of 781969Office block, 2, 2A and 3 Queen Street  EdinburghScotlandPartner in charge
Item 48 of 781969Offices for rent for Scottish Life Assurance Company  EdinburghScotlandPartner in charge
Item 49 of 781970sForres AcademyForres MorayshireScotlandSwimming pool
Item 50 of 781970Office block, 10 and 12 Young Street  EdinburghScotlandPartner in charge
Item 51 of 781970Police Headquarters  EdinburghScotlandPartner in charge
Item 52 of 781971Orchard Brae House  EdinburghScotlandPartner in charge
Item 53 of 781971Stock Exchange premises  EdinburghScotlandInvestigation - as partner in charge in 1972 and demolition the year after
Item 54 of 781972Heriot-Watt University, Petroleum Engineering DepartmentRiccarton EdinburghScotlandPhase I
Item 55 of 781972Offices at North St David Street, west side  EdinburghScotlandPartner in charge
Item 56 of 78197347 Iona Street  EdinvburghScotlandAlterations - partner in charge
Item 57 of 781973Heriot-Watt University, Department of Civil EngineeringRiccarton MidlothianScotland 
Item 58 of 781973Heriot-Watt University, Mechanical Engineering DepartmentRiccarton MidlothianScotland 
Item 59 of 781974Offices for Friends Provident, Charlotte Lane  EdinburghScotlandPartner in charge
Item 60 of 781975Office block for Oil Service Co. of IranAhwaz  IranAs partner in charge
Item 61 of 78Before 1975Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton Campus, students' hostelsRiccarton MidliothianScotland 
Item 62 of 78Before 1975University of St Andrews, students' hostelSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 63 of 781978Orchard Brae House  EdinburghScotlandNine subdivisions within Orchard Brae House - partner in charge
Item 64 of 781979Borders Regional HeadquartersNewtown St Boswells RoxburghshireScotlandPartner in charge
Item 65 of 781979Heriot Watt University, Riccarton Campus, computer centreRiccarton, Currie MidlothianScotlandPartner in charge
Item 66 of 781979Syntex Research CentreRiccarton MidlothianScotlandPhase I
Item 67 of 781980Premises on corner of Castle Street and Princes Street  EdinburghScotlandRedevelopment - partner in charge
Item 68 of 781980St Mary's Street development, Ben Line Building  EdinburghScotlandInvestigation - partner in charge
Item 69 of 781983Police Headquarters  EdinburghScotlandComputer extension - partner in charge
Item 70 of 781984Beechmount HouseMurrayfield EdinburghScotlandFire precaution survey - partner in charge
Item 71 of 781984Corstorphine Convalescent HomeCorstorphine EdinburghScotlandFire precaution survey - partner in charge
Item 72 of 781984Leith HospitalLeith EdinburghScotlandFire precaution survey - partner in charge
Item 73 of 781984Leith PoorhouseLeith EdinburghScotlandFire precaution survey - partner in charge
Item 74 of 781984Leith Public Health HospitalLeith EdinburghScotlandFire precaution survey - partner in charge
Item 75 of 781984North Ayrshire District General HospitalCrosshouse, Kilmarnock AyrshireScotlandSurvey of defects - as consultant in charge
Item 76 of 781984RAF FacilitiesEdzell AngusScotlandPartner in charge
Item 77 of 781984St Cuthbert's PoorhouseCraigleith EdinburghScotlandFire precaution survey - partner in charge
Item 78 of 781986Trefoil SchoolGogarburn EdinburghScotlandBathroom and other upgradings - in independent practice.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp10 Image of Thomas Whalen's 'Coal Cliff' relief for the 1951 Exhibition of Industrial Power
Item 2 of 5RIBA1954RIBA Kalendar 1953-54   
Item 3 of 5RIBA1964The RIBA Kalendar 1964-65   
Item 4 of 5RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 5 of 5RIBA1987RIBA Directory of Members 1987   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 4Courtesy of Peter B CairdInformation sent to DSA Sent March 2011
Item 2 of 4RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership  
Item 3 of 4RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Caird's Paper F no6853 (Combined Box 163)
Item 4 of 4Sent to DSA by emailInformation from AHRC/RCAHMS Spence project per David W Walker and Clive Fenton Clive Fenton's research notes (sent July 2010)